Cover for coin receptacles



Sept. 12, 1939. c. c. VEALE COVER FOR COIN RECEPTACLES Filed Oct. 31,1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

lull. 710m 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 31, 1956 INVf/VTOR C. C l/EALEMwm Patented Sept. 12, 1939 UNiTED STATE PATENT OFFICE COVER FOR COINnEoErrso s Application Qctober 31, 1936, Serial lfIo. 108,590 8 Claims.(Cl. 23215) This invention relates to covers for coin boxes orreceptacles and more particularly to covers for coin receptacles of thetype used in telephone coin collectors, such a receptaclebeing'described, for

5 example, in United States Patent 1,121,063, issued December 15, 1914,to W. 0. Beck.

Cash receptacles used in telephone coin collectors are ordinarilyfurnished with a hinged cover which has an opening therein through 1which the collected coins pass into the receptacle. A sliding shutter isusually provided for closing the coin receiving opening. A projectioncarried by an extension of the shutter is adapted to engage with aportion of the coin collector housing when the coin receptacle is placedtherein, this engagement being effective, when the receptacle is beinginserted in the housing, to move the shutter to open position, and beingefiective, when the receptacle is being removed, to move the shutter toclosed position. Means is ordinarily provided for automatically lockingthe shutter in closed position.

In accordance with the usual practice the empty coin receptacles areprepared for distribution at a central cashiers office. Before the coveris placed on the coin box the shutter locking means is set in freeposition, i. e., a position which allows the shutter to move to openposition. The cover is then placed in position on the coin box andsuitably secured thereto, for example-by means of a special seal. Thereceptacles are then taken by designated employees to'be placed in thetelephone coin collectors. As. the receptacle is inserted in the housingthe shutteris moved to open position as stated above and the lockingmeans is ordinarily so.arranged that before the receptacle is'fullyinserted, the locking means is tripped and moved into locking position.Now when the filled receptacle is later withdrawn the shutteris closedas above mentioned,-the locking means then being effective to hold theshutter in closed position.

An object of the present invention is to provide coin receptacle coversof the above mentioned 45 type with an inexpensive and reliable shutterlocking mechanism having means permanently associated therewith forfacilitating authorized manipulation thereof and adapted to effectivelyresist fraudulent tampering therewith. In accordance with one embodimentof the invention, acoin receptacle cover of the type referred to isprovided with a shutter locking mechanism comprising a ratchet adaptedto be rotated by movementof the shutter to open or 55 closed position, aspring pressed locking pawl for cooperating with the ratchet to preventopening movement of the shutter, and a' hand lever mounted'on the underside of the cover for releasingth'e locking pawl. A projection on theratchet is ifectiixefdhring movement of the 5 shutter froniclo'sedtofiopen position,"for tripping thelocking pawl to locking position. Thelocki'ng pawrreieasm lever is constructed and arranged so that when thecover is in closingposi Ion tlfiii oin box,'a side wall of t efbox is in10 the path ofthe lever and prevents movement thereof to relieasethelocking pawl. V

Qther .ie atu'res" and advantages of the inveneh will heq 'eahpareh mm hf o d taile des ri ti n w e rea in qqn n ho th the eqe ihpah ih drawins. iwh s Fig. 1 is a plan vie wof a coin receptacle cover em e ih thntentio how n h sh e i i d w i h a q o e p r we eing broke awa to sh wth ear th n h ,0 Shut e .WmQ Qnsag z p o o m v n e ratchet oi thelocking mechanism which is contained a separate housing in the lowerwall -ih hqve V Fi Zisa plan view of ,the cover showing the shutter inits closed and locked position, a portion of the housing being brokenaway to show the lockin mechanism;

Fig. 3.is ,a plan view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the locking pawlreleasing lever moved tothe position wherein it is about to trip thelocking pawl .to its free position;

Fig.4 isa planview similar to Fig. 3, but showing thelocking pawl in itsfree position, and the releasing lever returned to its normal position,the covernow being shown in closed position on a coinbox and withtheshutter about to begin its opening movement as the coin receptacle isinserted irithe coin collector;

".Fig. '5 is a plan view similar to Fig. 4, but 40 showing the relativepositions of the parts when the coin receptaclehas been inserted intothecoin collector to a point where the locking pawl is about tobe trippedtoits active position;

Fig.6 is a plan view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the shutter in itsfully opened position after the coin receptacle has been inserted in thecoin collector, the locking pawl being in its active position;

Fig. 7 is a similarview showing the relative positionsofthe parts whenthe coin receptacle has been partiallyremoved from the coin collectonthe shutter being shown partly closed with the locking" pawl inpositionpreventing opening 55 movement but permitting further closing movementof the shutter, and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line 88 of Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, a coin receptacle cover II) is shownwhich comprises a flanged outer plate II and an inner plate I2 securedtogether in spaced relation by rivets or otherwise. A coin receivingopening I4 is provided in the plates and the plates are spaced apartsufliciently to slidably accommodate therebetween a shutter plate I5 forclosing the opening. The shutter is rotatably mounted on a pivot pin I6extending between the two plates. A formed U-shaped spring I8 serves tonormally hold shutter I5 in closed position with respect to opening I4.One end of spring I8 presses against the shutter at I9 and the other endof the spring is attached to a pin 2|] (Fig. 1) secured to-the underside of outer plate II. An extension arm 2| of shutter I5 extendsupwardly through an arcuate slot 22 in outer plate II and then laterallybeyond the edge of the cover as shown.

The inner plate I2 is formed with a circular recess or depression 24(Fig. 8) in its upper surface and an inverted cup-shaped housing 25 isfitted into the recess so that a closed chamber is provided for housingthe shutter locking mechanism hereinafter described. The upper surfaceof the housing 25 is flush with the upper surface of inner plate I2, asshown in Fig. 8.

On the upper surface of the housing 25 a pinion gear 26 is rotatablymounted, the pinion having an integral hub portion 2'! rotatablyjournaled in the upper wall of the housing. This pinion meshes with gearteeth 29 on an arcuate extension 30 of the shutter. The hub 21 of thepinion projects into the housing 25 wherein the hub has fixed thereto atoothed wheel or ratchet 32. By this structure ratchet 32 is caused torotate in a direction opposite to that of shutter I5 when the latter isopened or closed.

A substantially dynamically and statically balanced locking pawl 33 ispivotally mounted within the housing on a pin 34 projecting downwardlyfrom the upper wall of the housing to the upper surface of inner plateI2. The locking pawl has two pairs of symmetrical radially projectingarms and one of the arms 36 is adapted to cooperate with the teeth onratchet 32 to prevent opening movement of the shutter. A formed U-shapedspring 31 serves to bias the pawl 33 in whichever direction it may berotated beyond the dead center position shown in Fig. 3. One end of thespring fits into a V-notch in the end of locking pawl arm 36 and theopposite end of the spring extends into a V-notch in the side wall ofhousing 25.

In Fig. 2 the shutter is shown in the closed position and the lockingpawl is shown in the locking position, i. e., in the position whereinlocking pawl arm 36 cooperates with a tooth on ratchet 32 to lock theshutter in closed position. The spring 31 holds the locking pawl inlooking position. The substantially dynamically and statically balanceddesign of the locking pawl effectively resists fraudulent attempts torelease it from the locking position by twirling or striking the coinreceptacle or otherwise subjecting it to sudden shocks.

A hand lever 40 is provided for rotating the locking pawl in a clockwisedirection (Fig. 2) to release it from locking engagement with theratchet. The hand lever is of angular form having a vertical portion 4Ipivoted in the depressed portion 24 of inner plate I2 and extendingbelow the peripheral flange of the cover where it is provided with ahorizontal L-shaped handle 42. The vertical portion M has formed on itsupper end a finger or cam 43 which projects laterally into the housing25 and is adapted to engage an arm 44 of locking pawl 33 to rotate thelatter in a clockwise direction upon rotation of the hand levercounterclockwise from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shownin Fig. 3. This releases locking pawl arm 36 from ratchet 32. As soon asthe locking pawl is rotated by cam 43 beyond the dead center position,spring 31 becomes effective to bias the pawl in a clockwise directionagainst a fixed stop 45 on the inner surface of housing 25, as shown inFig. 4. The hand lever may now be returned to its normal position, thespring 31 now serving to hold the pawl in its inactive or free position,i. e., a position which allows shutter I5 to move to open position.

Upon movement of the shutter from closed position to open position,ratchet 32 is rotated in a'clockwise direction (Fig. 4) through theengagement of toothed portion 30 of the shutter with pinion 26. Aprojection 41 on the ratchet is effective, during movement of theshutter to open position, to trip the locking pawl 33 from its freeposition shown in Fig. 4 to its active position shown in Fig. 6.

In Fig. 5 the parts are shown in their respective positions when thelocking pawl is about to be tripped by the projection 41 on the ratchet.It will be noted that the shutter is now only par tially opened. As soonas the pawl passes the dead center position, spring 31 becomes effectiveto bias the pawl in a counterclockwise direction, pressing locking arm36 against smooth portion 48 of the ratchet. The pawl is now in itsactive position, wherein it is held by the spring, but the shutter ispermitted to continue its opening movement since the locking pawl arm 36is now free to ride on smooth portion 48 of the ratchet.

Upon movement of the shutter from its open position to its closedposition, ratchet 32 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. Thespring pressed locking pawl arm 36 first rides on smooth portion 48 ofthe ratchet and then on the toothed portion thereof. The locking pawlarm drops into engagement with each ratchet tooth, successively, as theshutter moves to closing position. It will be noted that theconstruction is such that the first tooth of the ratchet is engaged bythe locking pawl arm when the shutter is only partially closed, afterwhich opening movement of the shutter is automatically blocked by eitherone of the ratchet teeth depending upon the extent to which the shutterhas been moved toward the closed position (see Fig. 7).

V The manner in which the shutter I5 is moved to open positionwith'respect to coin receiving opening I4 as the coin receptacle isinserted in the coin collector housing, is illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and6. A portion 53 of the guide rail which is attached to the coincollector housing is shown, the guide rail being provided with anaperture 54 in which the arm 2i of the shutter is positioned, as shownin Fig. 4, when the receptacle is placed in the housing. Then, as thereceptacle is pushed back into position in the housing in the directionindicated by the arrow, arm 2I is prevented from moving by its contactwith the rear edge of aperture 54 so that the shutter is, in effect,moved to open position (Fig. 6) with respect to coin receiving openingI4. Conversely, when the receptacle is being moved in the oppositedirection, that is, when it is being withdrawn from the housing, theshutter is, in effect, moved to closed position with respect to openingM. The respective dimensions and arrangement of the coin receptacle andthe coin collector housing are such that it is impossible to insert thereceptacle in the housing without first positioning the shutter arm 2lin the guide rail aperture 54.

Before the coin receptacle is inserted in the coin collector housing,locking pawl 33 should, of course, be set in free position (Fig. 4) toallow shutter ill to be moved to open position. This is accomplished bymeans of the hand lever 40, as above described. This hand lever, being apermanent part of the cover mechanism, eliminates the necessity ofemploying a separate tool for resetting the locking mechanism. It willbe obvious, also, that the hand lever, being on the under side of thecover, is not accessible when the cover is in closing position on thecoin box. Furthermore, the hand lever is so constructed and arrangedthat it cannot be operated to release the locking mechanism when thecover is in closing position on the coin box. This will be apparent uponreferring to Figs. 4 and 8, wherein the cover is shown in closingposition upon a coin box 60, a portion of which is illustrated. It willbe noted that the hand lever 40 projects into the receptacle and is sopositioned with respect to the side wall 6! of the coin box that thelatter prevents movement of the hand lever sufficiently to release thelocking mechanism, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. Thus,unauthorized tampering with the shutter locking mechanism is effectivelyprevented.

After the locking pawl has been set in the free position by the handlever, as above described, the cover is placed on the coin box andsealed. The receptacle is then inserted in the coin collector housing.As stated above, the shutter is opened as the receptacle is pushed intothe housing. As the shutter moves to the open position, projection 41 onratchet 32 trips the locking pawl from the free position shown in Fig. 4to the active'position shown in Fig. 6, wherein it is held by spring 31.

As long as the coin receptacle remains in the coin collector housing,shutter I remains in open position and locking pawl 33 remains biased inthe active position shown in Fig. 6. Upon withdrawing the coinreceptacle from the housing the shutter is moved to closed position, asabove stated. Locking pawl arm 36 rides on the periphery of the ratchetas the latter is rotated counterclockwise by the closing movement of theshutter. After the shutter has been partially closed and whilecontinuing its closing movement, locking pawl arm 36 passes over theratchet teeth, which become effective successively for preventingopening movement of the shutter. Upon reaching the completely closedposition the shutter is automatically locked by engagement of thelocking pawl with the last tooth on the ratchet, as shown in Fig. 2.

After the coin receptacle has been removed from the coin collectorhousing, the seal is broken by an authorized person and the cover isremoved from the coin box. Before the cover is replaced, the lockingpawl is reset in free position as mentioned above.

What is claimed is:

1. A coin receptacle having a coin receiving opening therein, a movableshutter for closing said opening, a rotatable member geared to saidshutter and having a series of spaced teeth, a

movable locking element for cooperating with any of said teeth toprevent opening movement of the shutter, said element being movable toeither of two positions, means for holding the element in either of saidpositions, said element being effective to cooperate with the teeth onthe rotatable member in one of said positions and being ineffective tocooperate with said teeth in the other position, and means on therotatable member movable into operative engagement with and effectivefor moving the locking element from the ine-fiective position to theeffective position.

2. A coin receptacle having a coin receiving opening therein, a movableshutter for closing said opening, a ratchet geared to said shutter, amovable pawl for cooperating with said ratchet to lock the shutter inclosed position, said pawl being movable to either of two positions,means for biasing the pawl in either of said positions, the pawl beingeffective to cooperate with the ratchet in one of said positions andbeing ineffective to cooperate with said ratchet in the other position,and a projection on the ratchet movable into operative engagement withand effective for moving the pawl from the ineffective position to theeffective position.

3. A coin receptacle comprising a coin box, a cover therefor having acoin receiving opening therein, a movable shutter for closing saidopening therein, a rotatable member geared to said shutter and having aseries of spaced teeth, a movable locking element for cooperating withany of said teeth to prevent opening movement of the shutter, saidelement being movable to either of two positions, means for holding theelement in either of said positions, said element being effective tocooperate with the teeth on the rotatable member in one of saidpositions and being ineffective to cooperate with said teeth in theother position, and means comprising a hand lever mounted on the underside of the cover for moving the locking element from the effectiveposition to the ineffective position.

4. A coin receptacle comprising a coin box, a cover therefor having acoin receiving opening therein, a shutter on said cover for closing saidopening, a movable member on said cover for locking the shutter inclosed position, and a hand lever pivotally mounted on the under side ofthe cover for releasing the locking member, said hand lever beingconstructed and arranged so that movement thereof to release the lockingmember is blocked by a portion of the coin box when the cover is inclosing position on the box.

5. A coin receptacle comprising a coin box, a cover therefor having acoin receiving opening therein, a shutter on said cover for closing saidopening, a movable member on said cover for locking the shutter inclosed. position, and a hand lever pivotally mounted on the under sideof the cover for movement in a plane parallel to the plane of theshutter for releasing said locking member, said hand lever having aportion projecting into the box adjacent a wall thereof, whereby saidwall prevents movement of the lever to release the locking member whenthe cover is in closing position on the box.

6. A coin receptacle comprising a coin box, a cover therefor having acoin receiving opening therein, a shutter on said cover for closing saidopening, a moveable member on said cover for locking the shutter inclosed position, and means for releasing said locking member comprisinga hand lever mounted on the under side of the cover for movement in aplane parallel to the plane. of the shutter, said hand lever beingconstructed and arranged so that movement thereof to release thelocking. member is blocked by a portion of the coin box when the coveris in closing position on the box.

7. A coin receptacle comprising a coin box, a cover therefor having acoin receiving opening therein, a shutter on said cover for closing saidopening, a movable member on the cover for locking the shutter in closedposition, and means for releasing said locking member comprising a leveron the under side of the cover and having a portion projecting into thebox adjacent an inner surface thereof, whereby said surface preventsmovement of the lever to release the locking member when the cover is inclosing position on the box.

8. A coin receptacle comprising a coin box, a cover therefor having acoin receiving opening therein, a shutter on said cover for closing theopening, and a locking member pivotally mounted on the cover for lockingthe shutter in closed position, said locking member being substantiallybalanced dynamically and statically, whereby accidental movement thereofis prevented.

CHARLES C. VEALE.

